Paul HeidenA Collector of Crowns and TiarasCourtesy of The Bradford Exchange Collectibles

As a child, I was fascinated with royal regalia - crowns, scepters, and long flowing robes. I think it's a universal attraction, because we grow up on fairy tales and rhymes about princesses, kings, and queens, and some of our earliest memories are of characters wearing jewel encrusted crowns. Just looking at a crown - or wearing one especially - can take us back to those magical times and lift our spirits.My collection of over 150 crowns and tiaras began back in 1990 when I was browsing in an antique shop in Newport, Rhode Island. I fell in love with a magnificent blue and white crown adorned with 1,700 rhinestones that was once used as a prop in the Vienna Opera House. With that first purchase, I was bitten by the collecting bug. Today I'm known as the "crown guy" among local antique dealers, but lately I've done most of my buying online on eBay, where the entire world is my antique mall. I've met several other crown collectors online, but no one, so far, has a collection as extensive as mine.

All of my crowns and tiaras are rhinestone costume pieces with some dating as far back as the 1920s. Among my favorites is a large tiara created of unique aurora borealis rhinestones. It's dated 1971, but reminiscent of a style popular in the 1940s. Another treasure is the huge blue crown that I found in a Mardi Gras supply store in St. Louis. Of course, I prize my very first crown and I'd never want to sell it. Along with the crowns and tiaras, I also have a small collection of crown pins, scepters, and orbs, all with sparkling rhinestones.

I thoroughly enjoy my collection and I love it when other people do, too. It's amazing to watch friends try on the crowns and see the transformation.Their faces just light up with delight and they carry themselves like princes and princesses at court. I believe we're all royalty deep inside, and when we tap into that, we can feel good about ourselves. That's why I always say, "You're never fully dressed without a crown, or at least a tiara."

Paul Heiden is the owner of Crown Florist, providing custom floral design services specifically for weddings and special events.